PAM gallery is the place to see emerging AZ artists

Thanks to the Contemporary Forum of the Phoenix Art Museum, emerging artists in Arizona get an annual showcase in a well-trafficked spot, the Lyon Gallery near the museum store. This year’s slate of seven artists offers a pleasing mix of video art, portraits, photography, semi-abstract painting, and mixed media. Personal favorite: Larry Madrigal, for his portraits of people close to him. Even though some religiosity is present, the dignity and grace of his subjects makes them quite compelling. The Kendra Sollars & Lauren Strohacker installation is my second favorite, although I wish it had been given a bit more breathing room in this combination of gallery and corridor.

As the museum explains, Contemporary Forum is a support organization that awards up to seven grants to emerging artists working in Arizona. Since 1986, CF has bestowed more than $224,300 to 168 Arizona artists through a juried competition. Once selected, artists prepare for a group show the following year. The exhibition of the 2014 CF winners is now on view until May 31, 2015.

Here’s a glimpse into the winners, provided through the artist statements as displayed next to their works, followed by the titles of the works that are on display. Photos in the slideshow come from the Phoenix Art Museum:

— Bill Dambrova, whose wild and idiosyncratic paintings are colorful layers of anatomical imagery, organic forms, symbols and art-historical references. He states that the piece on display pays homage to the time he worked at the museum. The Body Remembers What We Forget, 2014, mixed media on canvas, 84″ x 180″. Image courtesy of the artist.

— Larry Madrigal, who mixes a Christian worldview with his roots in street art. “I want my work to evoke a sense of sacredness,” he states. St. Propaganda (Jason Petty) of Los Angeles, 2014, oil on canvas, 36″ X 24″. Image courtesy of the artist.

— Ben Willis, who challenges viewers to shift perspectives as they view his work, in order to discover the various layers of the paintings as achieved through thin, transparent filters. Above the Rim, 2015, oil on canvas, 32″ x 42″. Image courtesy of the artist.

A further note about Contemporary Forum, just as important: The group also sponsors the Arlene and Morton Scult Contemporary Forum Artist Award, which annually bestows a solo show to a mid-career Arizona artist. The 2014 winner is Rachel Bess of Phoenix, and her show is just a few steps away from the Lyon Gallery. It too is on view through the month. Her show is phenomenal, in a word; see my review on Visual Art Source.

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deborahross36

"Almost a native" goes the saying if you have lived in Phoenix for a good chunk of your life. That's me -- a desert rat -- and my experiences as a writer and editor have led me to believe that our local art scene is highly underrated. This website might not remedy that, but it will introduce readers to museums and galleries and art in public spaces -- all around our beautiful desert Valley.
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Who I Am

"Almost a native" goes the saying if you have lived in Phoenix for a good chunk of your life. That's me -- a desert rat -- and my experiences as a writer and editor have led me to believe that our local art scene is highly underrated. This website might not remedy that, but it will introduce readers to museums and galleries and art in public spaces -- all around our beautiful desert Valley.